Measurement of mode II fracture toughness of wood by the end-notched flexure test

We examined the applicability of end-notched flexure (ENF) tests for measuring the mode II fracture toughness of wood. Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla Sarg.) was used for the specimens. The fracture toughness at the beginning of crack propagationG _IIc and that during crack propagationG _IIR were calculated from the loadloading point compliance and load-crack shear displacement (CSD) relations. The obtained results were compared with each other, and the validity of measurement methods were examined. The results are summarized as follows: (1) The value ofG _IIc increased with the increase in initial crack length. When measuringG _IIc by ENF tests, we should be aware of the dependence ofG _IIc on the initial crack length. (2) The value ofG _IIR initially increased with the crack length, and it reached a constant value. (3) Measurement of the CSD is recommended when obtainingG _IIR because the crack length, which has a great influence on theG _IIR calculation, is implicitly included in the CSD. (4) We found that the crack length during its propagation should be evaluated by the final crack length.     

Influence of span/depth ratio on the measurement of mode II fracture toughness of wood by end-notched flexure test

The influence of the span/depth ratio when measuring the mode II fracture toughness of wood by endnotched flexure (ENF) tests was examined. Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla Sarg.) was used for the specimens. The ENF tests were conducted by varying the span/depth ratios; and the fracture toughness at the beginning of crack propagation G_IIc was calculated by two equations that require the load-deflection compliance or Young's modulus. Additionally, the influence of the span/ depth ratio on the load-deflection compliance was analyzed by Timoshenko's bending theory in which additional deflection caused by the shearing force is taken into account. The following results were obtained: (1) When the span/depth ratio was small, the fracture toughness calculated with the data of load-deflection compliance was large. In contrast, the fracture toughness calculated with the equation containing Young's modulus tended to be constant. (2) In the small span/depth ratio range, the load-deflection compliance was estimated to be larger than that predicted by Timoshenko's bending theory. (3) To obtain the proper fracture toughness of wood with a single load-deflection relation, the span/depth ratio should be larger than that determined in several standards for the simple bending test method of wood, 12:16.     

Variability of fracture toughness by the crack tip position in an annual ring of coniferous wood

The effects of the location of the crack tip in an annual ring and the direction of crack propagation on the fracture toughness of the TR crack propagation system of coniferous wood (T, direction normal to the notch plane; R, propagation direction) were analyzed by the finite element method in regard of the changes in elastic modulus and strength within an annual ring. The critical point of the fracture was defined as the state where the stress of a square element (0.125 × 0.125 mm) in contact with the crack tip equals the tensile strength. The distribution of specific gravity was measured by soft X-ray densitometry. The elastic moduli in the T and R directions were estimated by the sound velocity. The tensile strengths in the T and R directions were measured by the tensile test using small specimens of l mm span length. Regarding the variability of fracture toughness (K _IC), the experimental and calculated results had the same tendency. Therefore, it was concluded that the variability ofK _IC is caused by the (1) heterogeneity of the elastic modulus and strength within an annual ring; and (2) changes in the degree of stress concentration at the crack tips, according to the direction of crack propagation.Part of this work was presented at the 40th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tsukuba, April 1990 and at the 6th International Conference on Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Kyoto, July 1991     

Evaluation of end-check propagation based on mode I fracture toughness of sugi (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>)

The relation between crack propagation based on fracture mechanics and end-check propagation during drying was evaluated in this study. Corresponding to the direction of end-check propagation, the mode I fracture toughness of air-dried sugi specimens in TR, TL, and intermediate systems was examined by single-edge-notched bending tests. The occurrence and propagation of end checks on sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) blocks during drying were observed at the scale of the annual rings. It was found that the critical stress intensity factor (K _IC) decreased as the crack propagation changed from TL to TR. The value of K _IC in the TR system was significantly lower than that in the TL system. As a measure of fracture energy, the area under the load-crack opening displacement curve in the TR system was more than twice that in the TL and intermediate systems. These results indicate that cracks perpendicular to the tangential direction initiate radially with ease, and then crack arrest occurs to prevent growing. This finding provides a consistent interpretation of the end-check propagation observed during drying as follows: tiny end checks, as an analog of TR cracks, occur easily and selectively in latewood or transition wood and propagate toward the pith during drying. When there is no corresponding secondary check in the forward latewood, the checks are arrested and do not propagate further.     

The effect of elevated temperature exposure on the fracture toughness of solid wood and structural wood composites

Fracture toughness of wood and wood composites has traditionally been characterized by a stress intensity factor, an initiation strain energy release rate (G _init) or a total energy to fracture (G _f). These parameters provide incomplete fracture characterization for these materials because the toughness changes as the crack propagates. Thus, for materials such as wood, oriented strand board (OSB), plywood and laminated veneer lumber (LVL), it is essential to characterize the fracture properties during crack propagation by measuring a full crack resistant or R curve. This study used energy methods during crack propagation to measure full R curves and then compared the fracture properties of wood and various wood-based composites such as, OSB, LVL and plywood. The effect of exposure to elevated temperature on fracture properties of these materials was also studied. The steady-state energy release rate (G _SS) of wood was lower than that of wood composites such as LVL, plywood and OSB. The resin in wood composites provides them with a higher fracture toughness compared to solid lumber. Depending upon the internal structure of the material, the mode of failure also varied. With exposure to elevated temperatures, G _SS for all materials decreased while the failure mode remained the same. The scatter associated with conventional bond strength tests, such as internal bond and bond classification tests, renders any statistical comparison using those tests difficult. In contrast, fracture tests with R curve analysis may provide an improved tool for characterization of bond quality in wood composites.     

Influence of loading point on the static bending test of wood

We conducted three-point bending tests by changing the condition at the loading point and then examined the influence of the loading point on the test data. Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipfera L.) was used for the tests. First, using loading noses with various radii, static bending tests were conducted by varying the depth/span ratios. Deflections were measured from the displacement of the cross head and at the point against the loading nose: Young's and shear moduli were obtained from the modified Timoshenko's bending equation proposed in a previous paper. Then a similar testing procedure was undertaken by inserting cushion sheets of Teflon between the specimen and the nose. After the measuring these moduli, bending strengths were measured using the loading noses and cushion sheets. The following results were obtained: (1) When the deflection was measured from the displacement of the cross head, the radius of the loading nose had an influence on the additional deflection when the depth/span ratio was high, causing the dependence of the shear modulus on the radius. In contrast, the radius had little influence on the measurement of Young's modulus. By placing cushion sheets between the nose and the specimen, the effect of the radius was moderated. When the deflection was measured at the point against the loading nose, the radius of the nose had little influence on the additional deflection; hence the loading nose had little influence when obtaining Young's and shear moduli. This tendency was commonly observed regardless of whether the cushion sheets were in place. (2) When the specimen had a high depth/span ratio, the bending strength increased with the increase in the radius of the loading nose. However, the influence of the radius was small when the specimen had a low depth/span ratio. There was no significant effect of the cushion sheets used here on the measurement of bending strength.Part of this paper was presented at the 48th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Shizuoka, April 1998     

The fracture toughness and properties of thermally modified beech and ash at different moisture contents

The fracture toughness of thermally modified beech (Fagus sylvatica L) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior L) wood under Mode I loading was quantified using Compact Tension (CT) specimens, loaded under steady-state crack propagation conditions. The influence of three heat-treatment levels and three moisture contents, as well as two crack propagation systems (RL and TL) was studied. Complete load–displacement records were analysed, and the initial slope, k _init, critical stress intensity factor, K _Ic, and specific fracture energy, G _f, evaluated. In the case of both species, thermal modification was found to be significantly affect the material behaviour; the more severe the thermal treatment, the lower the values of K _Ic and G _f, with less difference being observed between the most severe treatments. Moisture content was also found to influence fracture toughness, but had a much less significant effect than the heat treatment.     

Mode I interlaminar fracture property of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens)

Bamboo is a unidirectional fiber-reinforced bio-composite. Once having cracks, the delaminating propagation is not controlled by the strength but by the interlaminar fracture toughness. In this paper, the behaviors of Mode I (crack opening mode) interlaminar fracture parallel to grain of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) were studied. Based on energy theory, the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness, G _IC, was measured using the double cantilever beam specimens, and the fracture surfaces were examined under scanning electron microscope. The results show that: (1) the interlaminar fracture toughness of Mode I is the basic characteristic of bamboo material. The mean value of G _IC = 358 J/m² (coefficient of variation = 16.88%) represents the resistance arresting crack propagation. No significant difference was found for G _IC among the specimens located at different heights of the bamboo. (2) Due to the low G _IC of bamboo, the crack propagation parallel to grain developed easily. The crack was a self-similar fracture without fiber-bridging. On the fracture surfaces, smooth fibers and plane ground tissue were found at the extended area of Mode I fracture along the longitudinal direction. Under scanning electron microscope, it could be seen that the crack propagation developed along the longitudinal interface between fibers or ground tissue. It indicates that the longitudinal interface strength was weak among bamboo cells.     

Three-dimensional modelling of wood fracture in mode I,perpendicular to the grain direction at fibre level

Abstract

A coupled experimental and numerical modelling approach was used to investigate the mechanism of softwood fracture at the fibre level. First, a three-dimensional mixed lattice–continuum fracture model was developed to investigate the mechanism of wood fracture, taking into account the porosity of its structure and its heterogeneities at the fibre level. The critical volumes in the specimen where crack propagation was more probable were modelled by a lattice that could show the alternation of earlywood and latewood fibres, and the other regions were considered as the continuum medium. The proposed model was used to investigate the mode I fracture of a small softwood sample in RL orientation. Secondly, a method was developed for microscopic observation of the crack trajectory and investigating the mechanism of initiation and propagation of cracks. This approach was used for microscopic investigation of the fracture behaviour of spruce specimens in mode I and RL orientation. The results of the numerical study were compared with the experimental results. The prepeak and postpeak behaviour of the obtained stress–displacement curve and also the crack opening trajectory in cross-section and longitudinal section in the model and experiments were in good agreement. Both the model and the microscopic observation showed that in mode I fracture and RL orientation, the main trajectory of the crack propagates in the earlywood ring.     

Shear strengths of wood measured by various short beam shear test methods

We conducted three types of short beam shear tests of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla Sarg.) under various span/depth ratios, and examined whether the maximum shear stress was used as the shear strength. The following results were obtained. (1) In the short beam shear tests under the three-point loading method, it was difficult to have the specimen failing by horizontal shear. We thought that this method should not be recommended for determining the shear strength of wood. (2) In the short beam shear tests under the asymmetric four-point loading of the specimen with a rectangular cross-section, the failure caused by horizontal shear occurred under some span/depth ratio range. Nevertheless, this range was dependent on the specimen geometry and was quite restricted. We therefore think that this method should not be recommended for determining the shear strength of wood. (3) In the short beam shear tests under the asymmetric four-point loading of the I-shaped specimen, failure caused by horizontal shear occurred under the span/depth ratio range wider than that applicable for the asymmetric four-point loading of the specimen with a rectangular cross-section. The maximum shear stress was stable in a certain span/depth ratio range and the value of the maximum shear stress is effective as a parameter for comparing the shearing strength of materials with each other.     

The toughness contribution of bamboo node to the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of bamboo

Bamboo is a kind of biological composite reinforced by unidirectional long fibers. The cleavage strength along grain of bamboo internode is low; however, the existence of bamboo node can hinder the propagation of interlaminar crack to make up for the defect of weak opening mode fracture toughness along interlamination. In this article, the double cantilever beam method was applied to test the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of Moso bamboo internode specimens and specimens with node to study the difference of the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness between Moso bamboo internode specimens and specimens with node. The results are shown as follows: the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of Moso bamboo internode specimens was \( G_{{{\text{I}}C}}^{\text{Internode}} \)  = 498 J/m² (SD = 65 J/m²); the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of Moso bamboo specimens with node was \( G_{{{\text{I}}C}}^{\text{Node}}\)  = 1,431 J/m² (SD = 198 J/m²). It can be seen that the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of bamboo specimens with node was higher than that of bamboo internode specimens, and the toughness contribution of node to bamboo Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness was 1.87 times. The conclusion was drawn that bamboo node can contribute a lot to hinder the interlaminar fracture of bamboo.     

Seawater exposure effect on the fracture toughness of low-density woods/GRP sandwich systems

The effect of seawater exposure on the fracture toughness of balsa (Ochroma pyramidale L.) and end-grain balsa cores that are widely used in small-craft constructive members has been investigated experimentally in this study. The interfacial fracture toughness was determined using mode I cracked sandwich beam (CSB) tests. Additionally, the same tests were performed for poplar (Populus tremula L.), easily available because of its natural distribution along the coast of Turkey and more cost-effective than balsa and its derivatives, to see if it is a proper alternative. It was found that balsa and poplar cores that can be classified as low-density cores have much lower fracture toughness values than end-grain balsa cores. Additionally, there was a positive effect of seawater exposure on their fracture toughness as opposed to that of the end-grain core. From the aspect of fracture toughness, the poplar core can be considered much more reliable than the balsa core where delamination loads occur.     

Examination of the onset of stable crack growth under fracture toughness testing of paper

Successive temperature distribution images around the notch tips during fracture toughness testing of paper were obtained by means of an infrared thermography system. Analysis of the images gave the critical times when the temperature significantly rose at the notch tip and when the distance between two maximum temperature spots started to decrease during the testing. Other successive microscopic images around the notch tips showed the relation between crack opening and displacement and the transitional point of the relation. The onset of stable or unstable crack growth as indicated in these critical times and the point agree with each other. For the specimen with a small width, an unstable crack starts to grow at the maximum load point without the stable crack growth period. On the other hand, a stable crack grows before the maximum load point unless the specimen width is small.The period of the stable crack growth increases with an increase in width. Differing from the methods based on thermal images to determine the onset of crack growth, the microscopic method is applicable at a wide range of strain rates and is thus suitable for quasistatic fracture toughness testing.This work was presented in part at the 8th annual meeting of the Society of Packaging Science and Technology, Japan, Tokyo, June 1999     

Statistical and reliability analysis for mixed-mode fracture tests applied to wood material

The integrity of timber structures is mainly related to its capacity to resist crack propagation under various load conditions. However, this phenomenon is random by nature, and the need to incorporate statistical information is mandatory for practical use in structures. This paper aims at defining a probabilistic model in order to characterize the scatter of the toughness test results of timber. The instantaneous failure tests are performed using the mixed-mode crack growth specimen. The crack tip growth is recorded by a video camera for mixed-mode ratios of 15°, 30° and 60°, where the relative displacement of loading points is recorded by LVDT sensor. The experimental energy release rate is evaluated by the compliance method. As large scatter of the energy release rate is observed, the statistical analysis is performed by using the bootstrap simulation, in order to characterize the probabilistic models in the opening and shear crack modes. The reliability analysis is then performed in order to underline the impact of the statistical uncertainties on the rupture of wood material.     

Relationship between crack propagation and the stress intensity factor in cutting parallel to the grain of hinoki (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chamaecyparis obtusa</Emphasis>)

The method of digital image correlation (DIC) was applied to the digital image of orthogonal cutting parallel to the grain of hinoki, and the strain distribution near the cutting edge was evaluated. The wood fracture associated with chip generation was considered as mode I fracture, and the stress intensity factor K_I for fracture mode I was calculated from the strain distribution according to the theory of linear elastic fracture mechanics for the anisotropic material. The calculated K_I increased prior to crack propagation and decreased just after the crack propagation. The change in K_I before and after crack propagation, ΔK_I, decreased in accordance with the crack propagation length, although the variance in ΔK_I should depend on the relationships between the resolution of DIC method and the dimensions of cellular structure. The calculated K_I in this study was almost on the same order as reported in the literatures. It was also revealed, for the case of chip generation Type 0 or I, the stress intensity factor for fracture mode II could be negligible due to the higher longitudinal elastic properties of wood in the tool feed direction than the one radial ones, and the mode I fracture was dominant.     

Fracture energy vs. internal bond strength – mechanical characterization of wood-based panels

Abstract

A new testing method measuring the specific fracture energy of wood-based panels in Mode I is proposed. Three types of wood-based panels, i.e. oriented strand board (OSB), particleboard (PB) and medium density fibreboard (MDF) are investigated, using fracture energy and the industrial European standard method of internal bond strength according to EN 319. Double cantilever beam specimens are notched in the middle layer to introduce an initial crack. To apply tensile load perpendicular to the surface of the panels to open the crack in Mode I specimens were adhesively bonded to steel braces. Besides the calculation of the total fracture energy an advanced analysis of the load–displacement curve was also performed. Results of the fracture energy method were compared to internal bond strength (IB). Specimen shape is optimized for industrial purposes using double cantilever beams, while the determination of the fracture energy is performed by simple integration of the load–displacement curve. While IB showed a large scattering of data, the fracture energy test yielded statistically significant differences between the board types.     

木材横纹理断裂及强度准则

以杉木为研究对象从宏观和微观上研究了木才横纹断裂的性质，并阐述了木才的强韧机理。研究表明：木材横纹Ⅰ型裂纹扩展方式是先沿纤维开裂伸展，然后再沿横截面作韧性断裂，其扩展过程分线性、稳定和非稳定性3个阶段；顺纹启裂时的断裂韧性与试件尺寸无关，是木材的固有属性；木材因其多胞及纤维增强的多层胞壁结构，而具有很强的抗横断韧性，不会因裂尖应力奇异性而发生低工作应力破坏，故在对含横纹理裂纹的木构件作安全设计时，建议仍采用传统的强度准则，考虑净尺寸上的常规强度即可。     

The fracture behaviour of single wood fibres is governed by geometrical constraints: in situ ESEM studies on three fibre types

In situ tensile tests were performed in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) on earlywood, transition wood and latewood cells of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). In order to examine the single wood fibres in a wet state, a specially designed tensile testing stage with a cooling device was built. The fracture behaviour of the cell types was studied at high resolution while straining. Different failure mechanisms were observed for the three tissue types. The thin-walled earlywood fibres showed tension buckling which gave rise to crack initiation and resulted in low tensile strength, whereas thick-walled latewood fibres predominately failed by transverse crack propagation without fibre folding.     

Mechanical performance of linseed oil impregnated pine as correlated to the take-up level

 The mechanical performance of pine sapwood (pinus sylvestris), impregnated with linseed oil to different take-up levels, is evaluated using several test methods. SEM is used to study morphological changes following the impregnation procedure. The reduction of mechanical properties is attributed to a) localized cell wall damage in the ray region that facilitates longitudinal inter-cell split in L-R plane (macrocrack) initiation and propagation; b) submicroscopical cracking in the S1 sublayer that reduces the resistance to Mode I and Mode II inter-cell splitting at any location where the oil front has passed. Mechanical testing shows the following effect of the impregnation on failure a) the Mode I fracture toughness G _Ic in L-T and L-R planes, determined in DCB test, is significantly lowered with no significant difference in fracture resistance reduction in between planes; b) 3-point flexural test for specimen geometry leading to cracking in R-L and T-L planes show that the flexural strength as well as flexural modulus are reduced due to impregnation; c) 3-point flexural tests on longitudinal specimens used to determine the impregnation effect on longitudinal modulus E _L and shear moduli G _LT and G _LR , reveal only minor changes. Fracture surfaces in mechanical tests are analyzed using SEM, and differences are explained by described microdamage mechanisms. Received 10 August 1999     

Mode III fracture energy of wood composites in comparison to solid wood

A simple experimental setup for mode III and mixed mode (I?+?III) fracture tests with anisotropic materials under steady state crack propagation has been developed. Load-displacement curves can be recorded up to the complete separation of the specimen. From the load-displacement curves several mechanical material parameters can be derived. The tests have been performed for solid wood and different wood composites, being PARALLAM^® PSL in different orientations, particleboard and INTRALLAM^® LSL, and the fracture behaviour is characterised by the specific fracture energy.